Immigrants and asylum seekers to the UK who find out they are HIV positive face double discrimination. Martin Flynn speaks to some arrivals from Africa at a new support group in east London
Throughout history, immigrants coming to Britain have faced anger, hostility and hatred. Now with the race card being played once again by right-wing politicians and the tabloid press, people coming from Africa face racial abuse and even violence. Some are accused of ripping off the benefit system and others face allegations that they are only coming here to get free NHS treatments.
While the EU countries try to make life more difficult for immigrants, and try to establish ‘Fortress Europe’, the future for asylum seekers in Britain becomes more and more precarious.
Last year there were over 86,000 asylum applications in the UK. Only 10 per cent were successful on first application. This rose to 50 per cent on appeal.
There are also an estimated 10,000 African people who have HIV now living in this country.
Professor Jane Anderson, of Bart’s and Queen Mary School of Medicine, told the recent Aids Impact Conference in Milan that immigrant HIV patients in the NHS “need more and get less”. Many are diagnosed with the virus while pregnant but most face financial, social and housing problems which are even more pressing to them than dealing with HIV.
Last year, to help isolated Africans living with the virus, long-term Aids activist Darren Ravenor set up a weekly support group at east London’s Globe Centre.
Darren, who is openly HIV positive himself, was appalled by the lack of practical and emotional help available to Africans with HIV living in this country.
The support group at the Globe, called New Beginnings, now has over 200 members and attracts as many as 60 or 70 people every Tuesday evening.
Many members of the group express fear about disclosing their HIV positive status but they come together every week to give each other mutual solidarity and support as well as to enjoy a wonderful home-cooked African dinner.
It is also clear that most Africans with HIV came to Britain not for a better life but to escape certain death or oppression in their home countries. Far from having an easy time in the UK, asylum seekers are often isolated and face racism, poverty and even violence.
Thirty-six-year-old Richard told me he was an opposition supporter of the Movement for Democratic Change in Zimbabwe and was badly beaten by police while attending a pro-democracy rally in Harare.
“I had to move - it wasn’t safe and there was a lot of intimidation from the war veterans who were seizing land.”
Richard explains that he managed to get to Britain, stayed with his sister but came down with shingles and TB and then found out he was also HIV positive.
His asylum application is still with the Home Office, and meanwhile he has stayed in a series of hostels and B&Bs, surviving on just £30 a week as he tries to rebuild his health.
“Once I was upstairs on a London bus and some boys started swearing racist abuse at me. I just kept quiet, got off and walked away and got another bus.
“But I don’t want to go back to Zimbabwe while Mugabe is still in power even though life here is hard, expensive and unfriendly.”
Another Zimbabwean, 34-year-old Emmanuel, helped Darren Ravenor set up New Beginnings. He has been in Britain for two and a half years but now walks with the aid of crutches after being badly beaten by thugs wielding baseball bats in Southend. CCTV captured the attack, the youths were arrested and have been convicted of grievous bodily harm and now face prison sentences.
Jennifer, 41, from Uganda, has been living in London for three years but has been visiting this country for over 20. After going to her local hospital accident and emergency department with a high fever, she was diagnosed with HIV.
Her application for asylum status has been refused and she is now appealing against this decision and has successfully fought moves to forcibly disperse her from the capital.
“I wish it could be settled once and for all because I can’t plan anything and I don’t know what to do.”
“Shared accommodation is very difficult and stressful,” Jennifer continues: “It’s crowded and dirty.”
Sarah, from Nigeria, has actually been living in Britain for seven years but found out she was HIV positive during pregnancy.
“I was put on strong combination drugs straightaway,” she explains, “because my CD4 count was just 70 and I had a Caesarean section and didn’t breastfeed my son.”
“Most African people who apply for asylum are being turned down and there are no medications available in Nigeria unless you’re rich.”
Despite being a university graduate, Sarah is forbidden to work in this country.
“I struggle to live on just £70 a week,” she says.
“Most of my friends here are HIV positive and we support and look out for each other. New Beginnings has given me back my confidence. I’ve learnt to accept my HIV status and to be positive in my life.”
Thirty-three-year-old Cynthia, from Malawi, has not been so lucky. Arriving in Britain just five months ago, she has been sleeping on a friend’s floor and has applied for asylum on compassionate grounds.
“I’m not allowed to work, can’t get housing and have been refused HIV treatments until my immigration status is sorted out.
“I go to the hospital every week but they say they can’t give me treatment.”
How are you surviving?
“By the grace of God and with the support of people at New Beginnings. I’m very disappointed the doctors won’t give me the HIV drugs. I’m left waiting for the Home Office to decide but am afraid that I might get very ill or even die here on my own.”
Young Mary, originally from Zambia, has been in Britain for three years and was found to be HIV positive when she was pregnant with a CD4 count of less than 70.
“My health is much better now I’m on treatments but I get just £30 a week and £30 for the baby.
“I’ve been waiting to hear from the Home Office for three years. I’ve heard nothing. It’s driving me crazy.”
Stephen, aged 41 and originally from Senegal, has been in the UK for seven years and was diagnosed here in 1999.
“I lead a fairly normal life in London. I’m doing translation work, speak nine languages, pay rent, pay my taxes and support myself.
“The first thing you think about when you’re diagnosed is ‘I’m the only one’ and ‘I’m going to die’. Then you start looking and learning that other people are in the same situation as you. You realise you’re not alone and it helps you to cope.”
Joshua, aged 38 and from Uganda, has been in the UK since the late 1980s. He came here and applied for asylum, completed his first degree and started a Masters course but became very ill.
“I had chest infections. I went for a check-up at the hospital and found out I had TB and HIV. I’m lucky because I’ve been given leave to remain in this country.
“I still get Kaposi’s sarcoma on my feet, which is very painful. My viral load is now undetectable but my CD4 count is still only 79.
“I was due to get married in Uganda but the wedding was called off as soon as I tested HIV positive. I’ve already paid a dowry of beer, money, clothes, goats and cows.
“More people keep coming every week to New Beginnings and they’re from all over Africa. Some of them are allowed to stay here but most are fighting for the right to stay and get treatments. Since I’ve been coming to the Globe I have met so many lovely people in the same boat as me.”
Myra, from Zambia, acts as co-facilitator to the New Beginnings group, and explains why it exists:
“It was set up to deal with the needs of HIV positive Africans in the London area and is a great success. The emphasis is on helping individuals come to terms with their HIV diagnosis. We give information on treatment access and the legal rights of asylum seekers and we try to empower people with life-coping skills.
“One of the best things here is that the group is run by people who are HIV positive themselves so that people can speak to someone they can trust and someone who takes time to listen and supports them.”
Some of the names in this article have been changed.
To contact the New Beginnings support group, telephone the Globe Centre on 020 7791 2855.
